Mechanism for foiling train-robbers



(No Model.) T. TOOMEY; MEGHANISM FOR FOILING TRAIN ROBBERS.

Patented May 14, 1 895.

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WASHINGTON u c UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

THOMAS TOOMEY, OF SORANTO'N, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM FOR FolLmc Q'YI'RAIN-ROBBERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,100, dated May 14, 1895.

Application filed February 15, 1895- Sen'al No. 538,569. (No mod l.)

To wZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS TOOMEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Foil- 1ng Train-Robbers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrlptlon of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for foiling train robbers, the object of the same being to so construct the mail and express car, locomotive and tender that robbers attempting to board the train will be met first by a jet of blinding and scalding steam on the locomotive, and afterward by a volume of steam at the entrance, and also within the mail and express car, which blinds them and prevents active operations by them.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be herelnafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the locomotive, tender, and the mall and express car, the latter being partly in section. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the locomotive-cab. Fig. 3v is a detail view of the tapered blow-off cock screwed into the rear end of the tubular boiler. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the tank-iron cages.- Fig. 5 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 6 is a cross-section. Fig. 7 is a detail view of foot-valve in the fioor on the inside of one of the cages.

Like reference-numerals indicatelike parts in the various views.

1 represents the locomotive; 2, the tender,

and 3 the mail and express car of the train. Secured in the rear end of the boiler at of the locomotive is a tapered blow-off cock 5 having a shank 6, whereby the same may be opened and closed by the engineer, and provided with an elliptical outer end for the purpose of producing a spraying nozzle.

Connected to the rear side of thedome 7 of the locomotive is a globe valve 8, whose handle or stem projects reawardly within easy reach of the engineer. Connected to this valve is a metallic pipe 9 passing around the upper side of the boiler 4, around the side of the lower platform, rearwardly along the side of the tender 2, connected by means of a fiexi-.

ble U-shaped piece 10 with a pipe 11 passing beneath the platform 12 of the car 3, and extending through the floor thereof up into the inside of the car. The pipe 11 is provided at a point beneaththe platform 12 with a steam nozzle. 13 for a purpose which will appear later.

The car 3 has secured to it at any convenient points therein,butpreferably at the front end of the car, two tank iron cages 14,bolted to the floor and extending to a point near the top of the car. These cages arecylindrical and are provided with a horizontal sliding door 15 moving between guides 16 on the inside of said cage and adapted to be closed from the inside by means of a staple secured to the inside of the cage, and a hinged hasp secured to the door The cage, is further provided near its upper end withaseries of holes or perforations of a size large enough to project a pistol therethrough. In these cages the express messenger and mail agent with their safe and other valuables protect themselves during the attack of the train robbers.

In order to prevent smothering or suffocation, the floor of the car surrounded by the cages is provided with a slide valve 17 ,which can be conveniently operated by the foot for the purpose of admitting air into the cage. The operationof my device is as follows:- When the train is first attacked the robbers, as a rule, make for the engineer and fireman covering them with their pistols, and thus get the train under their control. To obviate this,a tapered blow ofi cock has been provided, so that when the engineer and fireman first get the alarm, this cock is turned on and there issues therefrom a jet of steam which serves to blind or scald any of the robbers who may be venturesome enough to ascend ter the car he will be met by this volume of steam, which will prevent his distinguishing one object from another, and thereby prevent the carrying out of his plan. The express messenger and mail agent are fully protected inside their cages 14 and are in a position to protect themselves by firing through the perforations in the cages.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device of the character set forth, the combination with the mail and express car, of a pair of tank iron cages located therein, said cages provided with a sliding door, perfora tions near the upper end, and a valve opening through the floor of the car, and means for admitting steam to the inside of the car, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the

combination'with the locomotive, tender, mail and express car of a train, of a steam nozzle secured to the rear end of the boiler, having a suitable valve therein, a valve connected to the steam dome, pipes leading rearwardly therefrom to the inside of the mail and express car, having a suitable steam nozzle adjacent to the platform of said car, a pair of tank iron cages located in said car, having sliding doors adapted to be locked on the inside, holes or perforations near the upper end, and suitable valves in the floor of the car for supplying ventilation, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I'have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS TOOMEY. Witnesses:

F. J. LUCE, D. M. JONES. 

